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The 21 Biggest Academy Award Snubs of All Time

The Oscars are supposed to be a barometer for greatness in the movie industry, but sometimes the Academy just misses the mark. Think about it: Three Six Mafia has an Oscar, but Leonardo DiCaprio does not. Snubs inevitably happen every year and some are more egregious than others. As we prepare for the next batch of nominations, let us reflect on some of the biggest snubs that still have us scratching our heads.
1. Leonardo DiCaptio in The Departed
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Leo has been nominated a lot, we know this, but he was at his best in this Martin Scorsese flick. It still pains us that this wasn’t his year.
2. Leonardo DiCaprio in Revolutionary Road
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We thought Leo/Kate Winslet reunion would equal Oscar magic. But alas, it was not to be.
3. Leonardo DiCaprio in Catch Me If You Can
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We still love this movie and think he was fantastic as con man Frank Abagnale Jr. Technically he played more than character, as Frank faked his way into becoming an airline pilot, a doctor and a lawyer.
4. Leonardo DiCaprio in The Aviator
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Last Leo one, we promise. But man did he do a good job playing Howard Hughes’ descent into madness.
5. Brokeback Mountain
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With the exception of Ang Lee winning for Best Director, Brokeback Mountain got completely shut out of the Oscars. Crash beat it for Best Picture in an upset, and Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal and Michelle Williams all inexplicably lost in their categories despite delivering amazing performances.
6. Alfred Hitchcock
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Can you believe the Master of Suspense never won an Oscar for directing? Despite all of his directing techniques that are now famous, poor Hitch never got Oscar recognition. Couldn’t they have at least given him the Best Cameos in All His Films award?
7. James Dean
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We expect that if James Dean had lived longer than his young 24 years, he would have taken home Oscar gold. But the impressive trifecta of films he made during his much-too-short career (A Rebel Without a Cause, East of Eden and Giant) are enough to make us sad he never won.
8. Saving Private Ryan
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This Steven Spielberg wartime epic starring Tom Hanks was beat out for Best Picture by Shakespeare in Love. Rumblings have indicated power producer Harvey Weinstein’s purse strings – rather than the film’s merit - are what actually got Shakespeare the gold.
9. Marilyn Monroe
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The iconic bombshell never got to make a breathy Oscar acceptance speech. She was probably most deserving for her part in Some Like It Hot, but it just wasn't in the cards.
10. Amy Adams
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Doesn’t it seem like she gets nominated every year? She’s like the female Leonardo DiCaprio at this point. She was great in The Fighter and she was our favorite part of American Hustle last year. Such a shame.
11. Robert Redford
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Redford, aka the Brad Pitt before Brad Pitt, has never won an Oscar for acting. He nabbed one in 1981 for directing Ordinary People and got a Lifetime Achievement award in 2002, but the founder of the Sundance Film Festival was never acknowledged for the talent that made him famous.
12. Paul Newman for The Hustler
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It took Paul Newman way too long to claim his Oscar glory. He was notoriously snubbed all throughout his prime years – most notably for The Hustler in 1962. The Academy finally gave him an honorary award in 1986 and then a Best Actor Oscar in 1987 for his role in the subpar sequel to The Hustler - The Color of Money.
13. Citizen Kane
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This film has been number one on so many AFI Greatest Movies of All Time lists that we kind of just assumed it had won the Oscar for Best Picture. Not so. The Orson Welles masterpiece was beat out by How Green Was My Valley, a movie about a Welsh mining village.
14. Michael Fassbender in Shame
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When you put aside the jokes about "best performance by a penis in a movie," you’ll realize that Fassbender actually turns in an Oscar-worthy performance in Shame (clothed or unclothed). We’ll give him time though – we think a statuette is in his future.
15. Ewan McGregor
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Ewan (or as we like to call him: every straight man’s mancrush) has turned in some brilliant work over the years – like his roles in Beginners and The Impossible. But sadly it seems it wasn’t enough to catch the Academy’s attention.
16. Johnny Depp
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Johnny Depp does not have an Oscar. We repeat: Johnny Depp does not have an Oscar. How can the guy who played iconic characters in Edward Scissorhands, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Finding Neverland be lacking a trophy, you ask? It’s a mystery for the ages.
17. Jessica Chastain
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Remember when Jessica Chastain had like a million movies come out in 2011? In luckier years, we think at least ONE of those would have gotten her a win. Maybe 2015 will be her year.
18. Keira Knightley in Pride &amp; Prejudice
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Reese Witherspoon beat her out that year for Walk the Line, but Keira would have had our vote for her pitch perfect portrayal of Jane Austen heroine Elizabeth Bennett.
19. Atonement
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Talk about a beautifully made film. It even won the Golden Globe for Best Drama that year, which is usually a sign that an Oscar imminent. Nope. No Country for Old Men took it instead. Guess nothing beats a Coen Brothers film with an ambiguous ending.
20. Short Term 12
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If you've seen this gem of an indie movie starring a riveting Brie Larson, you'll understand why this was a major snub. It was one of the best movies of 2013, but presumably because it was so small, it didn't get any awards love. Travesty.
21. Mary Elizabeth Winstead in Smashed
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Another small movie, but a huge Oscar-worthy performance by Winstead as a young wife coming to terms with sobriety. Or at least worthy of a nomination. Pay better attention, Academy!
Who do YOU think has been snubbed? Tell us on Twitter by following the links below!
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The canoe from cult movie Deliverance is to be sold as part of a huge Burt Reynolds auction next month (Dec14) The boat, which was one of those used in the cult 1972 film, is among a number of highlight items going under the hammer at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas on 11 and 12 December, as part of the Julien's Auctions sale.
Other choice memorabilia includes numerous pairs of western boots from Reynolds' personal collection, his large collection of belt buckles, an 18-karat gold antique inscribed pocket watch given to the actor by his co-star and friend Sally Field, "museum quality" paintings, and sculptures and handcrafted saddles and gun belts from the Edward H. Bohlin Company, of which Burt Reynolds was a part owner in the early 1990s.
The canoe is expected to fetch up to $800 (£670).

Walt Disney Studios via Everett Collection
Okay, Ruffalo. Sell it. Tell us why, with so many properties to choose from and all the money required to breathe life into its leviathan of promising characters, Marvel is "entertaining the idea" of another standalone movie for the Hulk. After all, the first two attempts at a Bruce Banner-centric picture resulted in sour reviews and lackluster box office intake. Ang Lee's maudlin interpretation of the character, as portrayed by Eric Bana in 2003, nearly sapped us of our Spider-Man highs, while Louis Leterrier's lunking, charmless 2008 version left us mourning the days when an Edward Norton headline meant a sure thing (there might not have ever been days like that, but it sure seems like there were at some point). But two years past the Hulk's gallant return to Bixbian form in The Avengers, and you're coming to DigitalSpy with the news that Marvel is considering another go at the rage-filled green giant for a spin-off feature?
All right, we'll hear you out: "There's still nothing definitive, not even a skeletal version of what it would be. I look forward to going down that road, if we could crack that nut." Clearly, you and Marvel alike share our skepticism, which is, in its own way, comforting. As lovers of Banner in his comic book, television series, and Ruffaloan form (and that last bit includes your appearance in the Iron Man 3 stinger, for which you seem to share an affinity: "If they did Iron Man 4 and Banner’s in that, that’d be very cool."), we'd love nothing more than the Hulk granted his cinematic due. But such a complicated character takes patience and plotting... more so than Leterrier hocked at the screen in '08, but not quite as much as Lee wove so dreadfully in '03. A happy medium. Something that the Phase 2-and-on psychology might be able to bring to life.
Seems like you've convinced us, Ruffalo. Maybe there is some hidden gold left to mine for a Hulk movie. Just... be careful this time, okay?
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DreamWorks
For the bulk of every Rocky and Bullwinkle episode, moose and squirrel would engage in high concept escapades that satirized geopolitics, contemporary cinema, and the very fabrics of the human condition. With all of that to work with, there's no excuse for why the pair and their Soviet nemeses haven't gotten a decent movie adaptation. But the ingenious Mr. Peabody and his faithful boy Sherman are another story, intercut between Rocky and Bullwinkle segments to teach kids brief history lessons and toss in a nearly lethal dose of puns. Their stories and relationship were much simpler, which means that bringing their shtick to the big screen would entail a lot more invention — always risky when you're dealing with precious material.
For the most part, Mr. Peabody &amp; Sherman handles the regeneration of its heroes aptly, allowing for emotionally substance in their unique father-son relationship and all the difficulties inherent therein. The story is no subtle metaphor for the difficulties surrounding gay adoption, with society decreeing that a dog, no matter how hyper-intelligent, cannot be a suitable father. The central plot has Peabody hosting a party for a disapproving child services agent and the parents of a young girl with whom 7-year-old Sherman had a schoolyard spat, all in order to prove himself a suitable dad. Of course, the WABAC comes into play when the tots take it for a spin, forcing Peabody to rush to their rescue.
Getting down to personals, we also see the left brain-heavy Peabody struggle with being father Sherman deserves. The bulk of the emotional marks are hit as we learn just how much Peabody cares for Sherman, and just how hard it has been to accept that his only family is growing up and changing.
DreamWorks
But more successful than the new is the film's handling of the old — the material that Peabody and Sherman purists will adore. They travel back in time via the WABAC Machine to Ancient Egypt, the Renaissance, and the Trojan War, and 18th Century France, explaining the cultural backdrop and historical significance of the settings and characters they happen upon, all with that irreverent (but no longer racist) flare that the old cartoons enjoyed. And oh... the puns.
Mr. Peabody &amp; Sherman is a f**king treasure trove of some of the most amazingly bad puns in recent cinema. This effort alone will leave you in awe.
The film does unravel in its final act, bringing the science-fiction of time travel a little too close to the forefront and dropping the ball on a good deal of its emotional groundwork. What seemed to be substantial building blocks do not pay off in the way we might, as scholars of animated family cinema, have anticipated, leaving the movie with an unfinished feeling.
But all in all, it's a bright, compassionate, reasonably educational, and occasionally funny if not altogether worthy tribute to an old favorite. And since we don't have our own WABAC machine to return to a time of regularly scheduled Peabody and Sherman cartoons, this will do okay for now.
If nothing else, it's worth your time for the puns.
3/5
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Paramount
Some movies focus so much on machismo that they inadvertently end up dripping with homoerotic tension. There are tons of movies that are just one make-out scene away from being a bromantic love story. It's ironic when mainstream movies aimed at gay audiences have leads with no romantic connection, when some movies about straight characters have sexual tension simply oozing off the screen. These "gay straight movies" provide an outlet for gay men looking for characters that resonate with them, a subtext of romantic relationships, and pure, unadulterated man candy.
Writer/director Michael Serrato created this viral video hit, “Rambo, But Gay” which is a musical retelling of the popular Sylvester Stallone classic Rambo. It’s an interesting take on the thin line between the overtly masculine and homoerotic. After all, Rambo spends most of the 1980s films half-naked and oiled up, so they are ripe for parody.
Here are my nominations for the 10 gayest straight movies of all time.
10. Fight Club
Edward Norton deals with his ennui by staring at a super cut-up Brad Pitt and forming a club where men fight shirtless in underground rooms. Helena Bonham Carter gives a great performance of a woman as a drag queen. Last but not least, a bleach-blond cherubic Jared Leto follows around Pitt and Norton.
9. The Covenant
Why not remake The Craft with boys in Speedos? A pre-Friday Night Lights Taylor Kitsch stars in a movie about the descendants of The Salem Witch Trials that happen to all be men. There’s a ton of time spent in the locker room and arguing about power.
8. 300
Abs, briefs and awesome gold facial piercings pervade this cinematic comic book. From the looks of it, the war between Sparta and the Persian Empire would have ended if both kings just made out.
7. School Ties
Paramount
Brendan Fraser gets into an exclusive prep school but he has a secret that he can’t let anyone know. It’s because he’s Jewish, but it does mirror what coming out would be like. It’s chock full of 1990s heartthrobs including Chris O’Donnell, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Cole Hauser. And thank you, filmmakers, for the gratuitous nude fight scene between Fraser and Damon.
6. Dude, Where’s My Car?
Ashton Kutcher and Seann William Scott have tons of bromantic chemistry. They spend the entire movie being chased by Nordic men in leather. The film also includes gratuitous Speedo and shirtless shots, Queer as Folk star Hal Sparks and an intense make-out scene.
5. Magic Mike
Channing Tatum attempts to make this a heartfelt biopic. Instead, it feels more like a campy romp. Matthew McConaughey spends most of the time shirtless and in short shorts, Cody Horn is the female lead with a boyish body and everyone wears a man-thong. Let's also not ignore the gratuitous use of The Weather Girls' "It's Raining Men."
5. Staying Alive
A waxed and oiled up John Travolta channels Pat Benatar in this sequel to Saturday Night Fever. He looks like a member of The Village People in his costume and ends the movie with one of the more boyish of his love interests, Jamie Lee Curtis. (Note: we have never believed that rumor about the lovely Ms. Curtis.)
4. The Outsiders
Based on S.E. Hinton’s book about rival gangs, this movie features all the heartthrobs of its time. Tom Cruise, Rob Lowe, Patrick Swayze, and Matt Dillon all star in the film. C. Thomas Howell and Ralph Macchio play best friends with a little too many sensitive and longing looks.
3. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
The palpable chemistry between Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin), plus elves with hair extensions. What more is there to say?
2. Cocktail
Cruise as a money-hungry gigolo making cocktails. 'Nuff said.
1. Top Gun
This movie invented the genre. Tons of close talking about "riding your tail," a very butch Kelly McGillis, and three simple words - shirtless volleyball game.
Are there any you think should have made the list?
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Aziz Ansari recently announced that he will be be writing a book about technology and dating. Let's just be happy that his Parks and Recreation character -- the nasal R&amp;B-loving, "swag"-saying Tom Haverford -- isn't writing the book. Here are a few quotes from Tom that he might have used if it were his book on romance.
On perserverence:"The four sweetest words in the English language — 'You wore me down.'"
On the perfect date:"We had dinner last night and breakfast this morning. What were we doing in between? Sex stuff."
On the female form: “I have no interest in art. Let me clarify: I have no interest in non-nude images.”
On when to call:"No, I don’t text her, 'It was nice meeting you." I wait eight weeks and I text her, 'What’s crackin?"'
On getting over a divorce:“Yeah, I’ve been a little down. Totally natural. I’m getting a divorce, but now I’m ready to pull myself up by some G-strings.”
On rationalization:"I just don't get why you broke up with me. Is it 'cause I'm not cool enough, like the normal kids compared to the vampires? Is it an Edward-Bella-Jacob type situation? Where you like me but there's someone else you like more?"
On weddings:“One of my life goals is to be a best man. It’s a baller position. You get drunk, you make speeches, and you make love to the prettiest bridesmaid. Usually standing from behind.”
On breakups: "She broke up with me. Didn't really tell me why. Luckily when you're the guy you can just tell people she's crazy. 'Hey, Tom, I heard you and Lucy broke up.' 'Yeah, man. Turns out, she's crazy.' That's what they always do on Entourage."
On loneliness:“Modern life. Where are we running? Sometimes what we want is not always where we are… Are we alone? Is the real winter inside our hearts? We are all struggling for definition in a world that resists our increase.”
On open relationships:“Yes, I’m married. But my wife understands that a good politician has to be appealing to the ladies. The fact that I haven’t even gotten close to cheating on her is a disappointment to us both.”
On Twilight:"Am I team Edward? Yes. Do I share his concerns about turning Bella, though? Absolutely not."
On deal-breakers:“Not loving ‘90s R&amp;B music is #3 on the Oh No Nos list. Girl don’t even know who Ginuwine is.”
On nicknames: "We have cookie tush, Winnie the Boo, lady presh-presh, Annberry sauce, Annie get your boo, Tommy’s girl, Annie bananie…"
On spicing it up: "I think cave sex is insane."
On the perfect gift:'There isn't a woman alive who doesn't love diamonds. Even the super left-wing chicks who saw Blood Diamond and cried. When they get a diamond, they like, 'yeah, b**ch, get more of them blood diamonds. Make 'em extra bloody.'"
On sex scandals:"I used to love Tiger Woods because he was a great champion. But after that sex scandal? The man is a god. "
On gold diggers: "Yeah, Jessica's a gold digger. But I'm a gold digger digger."
And, finally, some pick up lines:“I think you sound like an angel, and everyone else sounds like demons.”"Hold on a second. Did you get your breasts done? You look amazing!""Hey, boo. Are you aging in reverse? 'Cause you look barely legal."
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It was an afternoon of magic, mayhem, and mysteries as the cast of Once Upon a Time graced the PaleyFest panel on Sunday. The enchanting cast and creators Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis took the stage to dish bewitching details about what’s still to come in Season 2 of the ABC drama. From time-traveling storylines, to new realms and former flames, Hollywood.com was there to gather all the highlights. Read on for scoop on Henry’s fate, Rumbelle’s awkward love-triangle, Sheriff Graham’s return and much more!
RELATED: Once Upon a Time Recap: Like Father Like Son
Journey to Neverland: Kitsis confirmed that later this season fans will be transported to a completely new and different realm that we’ve never seen before. Although he wouldn’t reveal where, fans instantly figured out the puzzle when Horowitz reveald the titles for the Season 2 finale. “The final two episodes of season two they kind of work as a two parter. Part one is “Second Star to the Right” and part two is entitled, “And Straight on Til Morning.” Grab some fairy dust and put on your jammies because we’re headed to Neverland! And let’s just say that Hook is not the only character who’s lived in this forever young land — Bae’s been there too.
Henry vs. The Dark One: As we learned in the final few seconds of “Manhattan,” the seer revealed to Rumplestilskin that one day a young boy will be his undoing, to which The Dark One sneered, “Well then I’ll just have to kill him.” Kitsis explains that Rumple will eventually have to face this fate-filled decision. “We saw when Rumple was last given a choice between love and power he let his own son go, so the question is has he learned anything and what chance does his grandson have?” After Lana Parilla pretended to punch Robert Carlyle in the face for threatening her TV son, Horowitz presented an interesting point, “An is undoing a bad thing?” Perhaps there’s hope that both Rumple and Henry can co-exist without any bloodshed.
Return to The Enchanted Forest: In many of the most recent episodes, Charming has expressed his strong desire to return to their fairytale-filled land. Kitsis confirms that this vision of home is something that our swashbuckling Prince is willing to fight for. “As much as David likes electricity, he misses his sword, and he misses his horse, and he misses his castle, he wants to kill some ogres and he wants to rebuild his land this is something that I think a lot of people could go on board for so we’ll see if that happens.” Kitsis says.
RELATED: 'Once Upon A Time’ Recap: A Giant Guest Star Returns
Captain Swan Scoop: While many fans are dying for this electrifying duo to finally lock lips, there are two people who would be less than pleased with the pairing: The parents. “I’ll let you take this one daddy,” Ginnifer Goodwin says to her on-screen (and off-screen!) beau Josh Dallas. The actor channels his protective father side saying his character would “definitely’ have a problem with a Captain Hook/Emma Swan hookup. Dallas says, “They want to protect her and they love her. They want to make sure that she has a shot at her happy ending,” Goodwin chimed in adding, “I think it would be tricky for her being with someone who shared her baby’s daddy’s mothers bed.” Ooh snap!
Welcome Back Sherriff Graham! Fans across the interwebs have been aflutter ever since it was revealed that dearly departed Sherriff Graham (Jamie Dornan) would be returning to set. The fan-favorite will be returning in episode 17 entitled, “Welcome to Storybrooke.” Horowitz reveals “[This] is an episode that we’re very excited about and we’re going to see the early days of Storybrooke.” Kitsis continues, “It’s the first week of the curse… We are going to get more insight into what it was like that very first week in 1983 what was life like for the evil queen to live in and to figure out this modern clothing.” Parilla was quick to assure fans that Regina will not be rocking a perm in this episode, however we will get to see more about her desires to look into adoption.
RELATED: ‘Once Upon A Time' Recap: Make Believe, Monsters, And Mothers
Tootles Belle, Hello Lacey: For those of you who are crossing your figners and toes for Belle to regain her memory, we’ve got some bad news for you. We’ll let Kitsis explain: “Remember when David Nolan was in a coma and he woke up and didn’t know who he was and then all of the sudden one day his cursed personality took over?” Be prepared Rumbelle fans because in episode 19, Belle is released from the hospital but she’s not the same innocent book-loving girl. Get ready to meet Lacey. “She is the opposite of Belle… things are going to get a lot more interesting for Mr. Gold,” Kistis says. Emilie de Ravin also offered her two-cents on the new character: “Racey Lacey.”
Always-Evolving Characters: You may think Snow White is the purest of pure, but be warned Once fans, the characters of Storybrooke always have a chance to change. “I think the interesting thing about our show is that we don’t write all of the good characters completely good, and we don’t write all of the bad characters completely bad.” Kitsis says, “And at the end of the day they’re all searching for their happy endings, it’s just that some of them have a harder path.” Especially our dear sweet Snow. (Hint-Hint!)
What do you think of all the Once Upon a Time goodies we’ve gathered? What storyline are you most eager to see more of? Intrigued to meet Lacey? Cast your spell in the comments below!
Follow Leanne on Twitter @LeanneAguilera
[Photo Credit: Kevin Parry/Paley Center for Media]
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Not all Young Adult Fiction adaptations are created equal.
Riding the Twilight wave has its advantages and disadvantages, the keystone of the Young Adult fiction genre working as a hook for enthusiastic readers, and a warning sign for those who caught the early exploits of Bella and Edward. Beautiful Creatures owes its cinematic existence to the uber-successful series, but the connective tissue ends there. Based on the novel by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, the movie is ripe with energy, drawing from its preserved, Southern gothic setting of South Carolina, two vivacious young romantics, and an ensemble of seasoned vets who chew up their scenes with twang. Beautiful Creatures doesn't wallow in relationships, it sparks them with frank sexuality and a dash of biting commentary. So long, Twilight.
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Alden Ehrenreich (Tetro) stars as Ethan, an ambitious resident of Gatlin, SC who dreams big and has a particular penchant for plowing through the town's banned book list (yes, even in modern times, there are people who don't see To Kill a Mockingbird as reading fit for teenagers). Waking him up from the doldrums of suburban life is new student Lena Duchannes (Alice Englert of Ginger &amp; Rosa), niece of the towns' notorious Ravenwood family, who becomes the target of public shaming. Beautiful Creatures does not skirt around the strong Christian influence of Southern culture and, as someone the kids believe is a Devil worshipper, Lena is an instant outcast under violent, verbal attack. Quite literally, kids pray in the class room to protect themselves from Lena's bad vibes. If Ethan didn't find the girl attractive in her own right, her position at the bottom of the social ladder fuels his infatuation.
Because today's young romances demand a supernatural element, Lena eventually reveals to her courter that she's a "caster," the nice word for witch in the world of Beautiful Creatures. When Lena turns 16, she'll be subject to "The Claiming," a decision (made by the moon?) that will force her to either the light, nice and peachy side, or the dark, wicked and bloodthirsty side of casting. It's a countdown for Ethan, who realizes he has little time to connect with and possibly save his newfound love. Believing she has the ability to choose her fate, patriarch Macon Ravenwood guides Lena in the ways of the light — while disapproving of her relationship with Ethan.
RELATED: 'Beautiful Creatures' Director 'Not Annoyed' By 'Twilight' Comparisons
The magic logic is as ridiculous and overly complex as it sounds, but Beautiful Creatures writer/director Richard LaGravenese (The Fisher King, P.S I Love You) never loses track of his characters and their interesting quirks. Jeremy Irons is a master spinster of exposition — if his Macon is laying down a mythology-building speech or rattling off the "rules of the Ravenwood family curse," it all sounds like Shakespeare. Emma Thompson does double duty in this department, playing the disturbingly conservative Mrs. Lincoln with recognizable, motherly terror, and her alter ego, a version of Lincoln possessed by a banished witch looking for revenge on Lena. Thompson spars with Macon and cackles in all her thick Southern accent glory, jumping between personas without a misstep. It's glorious.
LaGravenese makes two inspired discoveries with Ehrenreich and Englert, who set the bar for performances in the genre. Ehrenreich is charming and warm, acting like an actual human being in the midst of a fantasy. He makes adorably awful small talk to woo Lena, he worries about her when she destroys the windows of a classroom with her mind, he becomes vicious when the Ravenwoods attempts to interfere with their relationship — all natural. Englert is like a young Kathleen Turner, her husky voice and sharp wit turning Alice into an unusually strong female lead. The young caster is vulnerable as her relationship blossoms, but fully capable of turning a family dinner into a merry-go-round from hell. The two are electric on screen, even at their campiest moments. Yes, they're destined lovers, descendants of a couple murdered during the Civil War, but even without the back story, Alice and Alden have a sweet, scary, and fiery romance.
At nearly two hours, Beautiful Creatures could stand to lose a few plot threads — Emmy Rossum arrives halfway through as Lena's Siren cousin, a painful attempt by the actress to steal the spotlight with exaggeration — but stands as proof that tween source material can be done right. As it does with the cast, the film is enhanced by its moody visuals and engaging soundtrack by alternative rock band Thenewno2, all setting the tone for Alden and Alice's fateful entanglement. The movie shows no fear depicting teens in love or the ramifications of America's belief system — touchy subjects that feel daring in a Hollywood production. That's the movie's real magic.
Review: 3.5/5
[Photo Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures]
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Prince William's wife has been suffering from a crippling bout of morning sickness, and was hospitalised for several days earlier this month (Dec12).
She cancelled all of her public engagements following her release from the King Edward VII Hospital in London last week (begs10Dec12), including the British premiere of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, in a bid to recover.
The Duchess stepped back into the limelight on Sunday when she attended the annual BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony, where she handed out several honours alongside soccer superstar David Beckham.
The sports hero announced Olympic gold medal-winning cyclist Bradley Wiggins as the winner of the revered prize and fellow Olympian Jessica Ennis as the runner-up, while the royal handed the pair their awards.
She also presented Lord Seb Coe, the chairman of the 2012 London Games committee, with a Lifetime Achievement award.
Beckham took to his Facebook.com account to congratulate the winners on their success, writing, "Just had a great night at BBC Sports Personality Awards. There were so many incredible performances, it was a shame there could only be 1 winner. Congratulations to Bradley Wiggins and all the other winners."

So you think the Grammys are predictable? Think again. The all-time winners list is more diverse than you’d think. With the 2012 Grammy nominations being announced tonight (along with a pretty incredible lineup of performers including rock legends The Who) it’s hard not to play a little prediction game in your head: Frank Ocean will definitely get a nod or two, fun. will get a little love, and there will probably be more than a little something for Mumford &amp; Sons. But it’s the surprising nominees that are the most fun, like last year’s handful of Skrillex nominations. What’s stranger still is when those wild cards win and we’re all left to scratch our heads. As you look through the nominees later tonight, keep this in mind: the following 12 people won Grammys. So, basically, it’s anyone’s game. President Barack Obama (2008) Our president truly is a renaissance man. He’s an Ivy Leaguer, jazz fan, avid Homeland viewer, basketball proficient, leader of the free world, and… a Grammy winner. He won his gold gramophone for his recording of his book The Audacity of Hope, and while he may be the most recent winner, he joins other Grammy-winning presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter. God Bless America, amirite? Joaquin Phoenix (2005) Thankfully, Phoenix didn’t receive any reward for his giant joke of a rap career. He did, however, get a little trophy for his work on the soundtrack to Walk the Line. He should keep in mind, however, that the Academy isn’t above revoking those awards, so maybe he should continue to keep as far away from the rap game as possible. Just a thought. Milli Vanilli (1990) To be fair, the Academy later revoked the Best New Artist award when it was revealed that Milli Vanilli’s vocals were not their own. The scary thing is that if those pipes had belonged to Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus, nothing would have stood between them and Grammy glory. Shudder. Zach Braff (2005) Remember back in 2005, when everyone you know said that Garden State had changed their lives? And that the soundtrack was a gift from the music gods? Well, the Grammys agreed and awarded the architect of the compilation’s greatness a shiny trophy. See? Braff has more to him than a legacy of awkward moments on Scrubs. Edward R. Murrow (1967) I’d give the guy a Grammy for having the best news anchor sign-off, but they don’t have that category and the Academy seems to be ignoring my letters. Luckily, the beloved journalist already has a Grammy for his audiobook recording of Edward R. Murrow - A Reporter Remembers, Vol. I The War Years. Right. Because we didn’t have enough reason to idolize the guy as it is. Art Garfunkel (Sans Paul Simon) Garfunkel without Simon was a bit of a joke in the music industry. After Simon and Garfunkel disbanded, Paul Simon went on to win plenty of Grammys, while Garfunkel was left wanting. That is, until 1998, when he won for his children’s album, Songs From a Parent to a Child. It sounds more like a manual than a work of art, but hey, good on ya, Artie! Creed (2001) You’d think a band that was once the number-one result for the Google search term “worst band ever” wouldn’t have an award for what many music lovers regard as the worst song ever, “Arms Wide Open.” But then again, we’ve got an iPhone appthat you hold in front of your mouth to simulate a mouth saying the words your mouth is already saying. Sometimes life doesn’t make sense. Martin Scorsese (2005) When you do a documentary about one of the greatest musicians of all time, you become eligible for a Grammy. And that’s exactly how Scorsese ended up with a shiny gramophone for his Bob Dylan flick No Direction Home. Now, if only we could get this guy to write a musical about the mob, we could get him an EGOT. Men At Work (1983) Look, we all want to get down to “Down Under” from time to time, but giving Men at Work the award for Best New Artist just makes me think that the term "best" does not mean what the Academy thinks it means. Baha Men (2000) Thankfully, someone finally rastled those damn dogs and we stopped having to try and answer the question that dominated the year 2000. We don’t know “Who Let the Dogs Out,” but they can stay in whatever kennel they were finally corralled in. Still, the Grammy powers that be felt it necessary to encourage this nonsense with an award for Best Dance Recording, proving that when it came to that song, no one was safe. Cameron Crowe (2000) And in what we’re going to go ahead and let be a redeeming moment in Grammys 2000 history, the Academy gave director Cameron Crowe an award for the soundtrack to Almost Famous. There’s no video, but I’d like to think Crowe accepted the award while yelling, “I am a golden god!” Tia Carrere (2009, 2011) The hot girl from Wayne’s World has not one Grammy, but two! It turns out, she’s something of a Hawaiian music star. Stop calling her that hot girl now, please. Follow Kelsea on Twitter @KelseaStahler [Photo Credit: Wenn (3)] More: American Music Awards Winners' List: Did Justin Bieber Best Rihanna For Top Honors? Taylor Swift Storms the 2012 American Country Awards Nominations The 2012 MTV Video Music Awards Winners Are...
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